Improvement in flag signaling apparatus



R. D. COUCH & J. M. LAMB.

FLAG-SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Patented Sept. 5. 1876.

WITNESSES:

N PETERS, P RAPHER, WASHINGTON, D c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUFUS D. COUCH AND JESSE M. LAMB, OF SHARPVILLE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLAG SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No- 181,912, datedSeptember 5, 1876; application filed July 11, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RUFUS D. COUCH and JESSE M. LAMB, of Sharpville, inthe county of Tipton and State of Indiana, have invented a new andImproved Signal-Flag, of which the following is a specification":

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a sectional elevationof our improved signal-flag; and Figs. 2 and 3 are horizontal andvertical sections of the same, respectively on line 0 c and-a: 00, Fig.1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts.

The object of our invention is to enable the telegraph-operator or agentto signal all approach ing railway-trains without leaving his office, oreven his seat at the operating-table, and at a moments warning, by asignal-flag of suitable size, which is displayed in such elevatedposition that conductors and engineers of approaching trains may readilysee it above the crowd of people which throng about the depot whentrains are due.

The invention will first be described in connection with the drawing,and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, A represents a box or receptacle of suitable height andwidth, that is applied, by means of a supporting-board, to the wall ofthe depot or other place where the signal-flag is required. Acylindricalroller, B, is placed vertically in the box -A, and made to revolve bycentral top and bottom pivots a in boxings sunk into the inside of theboards forming the top and bottom of the box. The roller B is providedat the pivots or other suitable place with a spiral bandspring, G, thatis attached at the inner end to the pivot, and at the outer end to thebox, and coiled to turn the roller in one direction, so as to wind upthe signal-flag D, that is tacked at its inner end to the same.

The opposite end of the flag D is applied to a cross-piece, E, that fitsthe slotted opening of the box when the flag is rolled up at the insideof the box, so as to close the box. The cross-piece is connected, byacentral staple,

b, to the cord F, that passes over pulleys d at the end of a verticalarm, G, and of a horizontal supporting-arm, G. The vertical arm G isrigidly braced near the outer end of the horizontal arm G, which is'madein sections sliding in guide-bands 0, one along the other. The slidingarm G is firmly adjusted at any length required to be set to the size ofthe flag by a suitable clamp-screw, f. The cord is conducted through ahole of the board and wall, andover a pulley at the inside of the wall,to the office of the telegraph-operator or other attendant, so that thesignal is readily displayed'by pulling the cord, and drawn in by thepower of the spring on releasing the cord. The cross-piece at the end ofthe flag is-guided, by a top staple, g, along a wire, g, stretchedbetween box A and vertical arm G, to secure the regular windingandunwinding of the flag.

This construction of the flag admits the ready signaling by pulling outthe flag, and the quick withdrawing of the signal after use, from theinside of the building.

The flag has to be attached to the cylinder or roller in such a mannerthat the unwinding of the flag winds up the spring, and produces therewinding of the flag when the hold on the same is released.

' Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- V 1. The combination, with the slottedinclosing flag box or receptacle, of a cross-piece at the end of theflag, fitting the opening of the box, to close the same when the flag iswound up within the box, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the signal-flag with the sliding supporting-arm,having guidebands and set-screw to adjust arm to length of flag,substantially as specified.

RUFUS D. COUCH. JESSE M. LAMB. Witnesses:

WILLIAM G. MATTHEWS, BENJAMIN F. ZELLER.

